Looking ahead to the British Grand Prix

So the Fast and the curious, the Formula One podcast that speaks to some of the biggest names in the sport and doesn't take it all too seriously. Hello, welcome. My name is Christian Hugill. Coming up we will speak about a Mercedes masterclass in the mountains. We'll also talk frustration for Ferrari and we'll look ahead to what could be a scorcher at Silverston and I am Christian Hughgill, as mentioned, the podcast's resident F one geek. Now my close personal friend and presenter of the podcast, Betty Glover is covering the World Cup in America. Now last time we spoke to her, she was in LA, but she's now somewhere different. So we get to once again cross live now to the United States of America where we find Betty Glover and ask her Betty Where in America are you? Hello everybody. So I'm now in Atlanta, which everybody calls hot Atlanta because it is so hot It is so muggy and hot. No, no, no, no, it's very different hotness to the UK. Now I know you've had a heat wave because I No, no, no, no no talking about. No, no, I'm not doubting that. That's not my issue. Well done for spotting I've got an issue because I do. Hot Atlanta That's what come up with. That's awful. Hotantter. That's what it's called, Christian. Hotlanta. And it is very muggy. But I have a big request for anybody listening to this podcast that lives in America or has been to Atlanta or lives in Atlanta Please, somebody give me a recommendation for a good coffee shop because I amm a coffee snob. I am. I love a good coffee and I cannot find one in Atlanta for no love, no money. So please somebody hit me up because I'm tired and I need it Have you tried using agcy The Google or the Chat GPT? I've used Google and it took me to this one coffee shop, right? Which was fine, but it just didn't do forall on in a minute, by the way. D don't we' get on to it.' get onto it. Sorry. And I did just pour before we came on the coffee all over my crotch. So it's not going well for me Oh Is that out of protest for it being a bit rubbish Yeah. ye, I' say Okay, but you I've never been to Atlanta and I love exploring new parts of America. you enjoy the World Cup. You're enjoying Atlanta? Yeah. Atlanta's great. I only arrived yesterday. But Atlanta is really good. I was in LA before, but I was staying in downtown LA, which is quite near I was quite near to Skid Row if you' aware of that So wasn't the best area. The locals kept being like, whereere are you staying? And I was like, o downtown LA. and they'd be like, get out, get out of downtown LA. So anyway I'm out, I'm in Atlanta. L. Okay. Lovely. And what Formula One has been noticed during the World Cup was the Austrian Grand Prix the talk of Atlanta or did it go slightly under the radar? No, oh my go, yesterday, I was walking around outside my hotel and I just saw a lad in a Williams top. And I was like, that just feels like the most random thing ever. Like why is there a lad in Atlanta outside the World Cup fan zone Wearing a William shirt but I lo it. On Saturday. So I was not in Birmingham, Alabama. I was in Birmingham United Kingdom at the weekend. for I did Birmingham they Birmingham. Birmingham, Birmingham For our dear mutual friend Pete's wedding, H happppy wedding Pete Daniel. Happy wedding Pete. Anyway won't be listen to this, but so we wish him well. Anyway I'd forgotten my belt for the wedding, not ideal. So in the morning went to the Bllring to pick up a belt and out the Bllring is a shopping center in Birmingham, big one and out got a lovely brown belt you'll be glad to know. anyyway. outside the shopping center, huge gaggle of lads. I would say no older than I don't know what the collective term for group of lads is, so I'm going with a gaggle of lads.en Yeah, but they were young. I would say maximum twenty two, right? Every single one of them, maybe about ten of them, all wearing different F one merch. A, I love it David, my fiance suggested I go and try and sell a book to them, which I thought was taking it a step too far. so I resisted the temptation of doing that. but' just alert them to the podcasts I present. But yeah, F one fans in the wild It is strange. I was just so shocked seeing this raandom Williams van in Atlanta because in the airport in LA, there were loads of McLaren. fans. There were people in so much McLaren merch, which I sort of was like, okay, I understand because obviously the world Champions and I don't know, it just feels like McLaren sort of breakthrough in America. but I just found the Williams fan in Atlanta quite funny But yeah, there's a lot of FO fans in the world around the world, are't? That's why we do podcasts on them, isn't it? So what did you see of the Austrian Grand Prix, which rhymed? because it can't have been a good time for you? No, it was a very, very bad time for me. And I also had to fly that morning having done a night shift, so I didn't go to bed until like two thirty three in the morning, my time then had to fly. and so I was very discombobulated. but during my sleep, Austria happened. So I managed to watch all of the highlights And I watched the end of the race, but I haven't actually watched it in full yet because I just literally haven't had the time, but I've watched the highlights and it looked like an absolute cracker. One Pablo Montoya, I heard, said it should have been three laps longer because then it would have been the best ever. and I agree with him. It was Yeah, it was wish was that. Yes It was a good one. It was a good one. Yeah. What did you think? I thought it was excellent. I really enjoyed the race. Yeah, we'd have had some battles at the end if it was three laps longer. Juan Pablo, I'd really like to disagree with and he's right on that occasion. Some fantastic battling between Louis and Max that we saw. I've said on this pod before, I love Austria. Betty, I want us to try and go to Austria next year and it's one I never end up at because it's always next to Silverston, but it looks so much fun. And I saw on Sky's social Ted Kravitz doing their pad thing that Sky do Same It was Exactly. and it looked brilliant. Ted very successfully sold Austria to me and he's and you know, Ted's been around. he said it's the best one for fans. So we'll park that idea, but I love the look of it. Anyway. I also love the circuit and the fact that it sort of veered The circuit, I should say, flows not vs from one section to the next means you get this brilliant racing. It's not dissilar to Inalagos in Brazil. the sort of flowing nature of the circuit. And watching the Max Lewis battling was just like this is This is it. This is what we live for This what we live for. So it was a great race. I really enjoyed it. In order to refresh yourself, given you've only seen the highlights, why don't you read the top ten and we can all refresh like you can refresh and we can just you know jog our memories Okay, so this was the top ten in Austria. George Russell got his first win since the opener in Australia converting from poll. Max Versappen put down a great drive to go from fifth on the grid to second. Kimmy Anntonlli took P three. He's finished on the podium every time he's finished a race this season which is Unbelievable to be fair, isn't it? when you think about it. Oscar Pastri fourth, Lewis Hamilton took fifth the first time he's not been on the podium in three races. Isac Hajar took sixth, four top six finishes in a row for Hajar, Landonor is seventh, Charl Clerair who deffinitely had a weekend to forget. no podium in his last five, he took P eight, Liam Lawson in P nine and Avid Lynn Glad picking up double racing balls points finished it off in P ten. So the championship standing' looking good, isn't it? Kimmy Anntonlli on one hundred seventy one points, forty points behind him is George Russell on one hundred thirty one points and then Lewis Hamilton moved downown to third on one hundred and twenty five points. It is finally poised Christian for Silverston, isn't it? Yeah, forty points doesn't feel a massive gap when you consider that. I don't think it's going to be one of those title battles where every I think there was lots of people saying at the start of the season, they were worried that it was just Mercedes going to run away with it Well their gap wasn't big in Austria to win the race. They obviously didn't win the race in Spain. So I don't think it's going to be one of those where if Kimy doesn't win, he will be guaranteed second as that's just proven. We had in Barcelona a Ferrari capable of winning. Max capable of popping up in Pet two. We had an excellent weekend. So that forty point gap does seem achievable we'll go on to who's in the title battle in a minute But Betty, we've both said on the pods recently George needs a weekend I'm imagining when you saw the race result, you sort of thought like I did, well, George needed that Yeah, well one hundred percent. he's been waiting for this. I think it must have been a huge relief to him. and there' something he said afterwards that really made me laugh. this is a classic George Russell quote, okay. He said, It's been a while since I sipped the champagne and had that sweetness I'm proud of my resilience and the people around that have helped me because it was tough everything going against you. Which is a very good quote, and I appreciate the resilience that he's had to have to get himself into this position. but I'm not sure about the it's been a while since I sipped that champagne and had that sweetness I would, um I like champagne. I would question whether it tastes sweet. I mean, I love that that's the first thing in the race we're discussing, but here we are. It's not a sweet taste necessarily. In fact, if anything, it sits on the back of the throat in a somewhat acidic way, I sometimes feel Yeah, I wouldn't describe it as sweet. But that felt like a very George Russell quote, didn't it? So George. been a while I've sipped on the champagne and had that sweet It felt If you wouldn't need to see George Russell next to that quote to know it was George Russell, It couldn't be anybody else, could it But yeah, it's massive for him. And I imagine like the psychology that he's had to, what am I trying to say? I imagine that the psychological work that him and Mercedes have had to do in order to get him to this point has really, really helped him. Also, the fact that he lost his drink system in extreme heat, Christian, he didn't need a hydration break So all I've been seeing over here is hydration breakes. Lvely it. I enjoyed the football reference. What did you think though It's interesting because I remember talking to you to Barcelona where I was on the ground And that whole weekend in the paddock, it felt like this is the weekend George needs until we got to end of the race where he was passed on chack by Antonelli, who of course then had his engine failure or whatever failure it was and he didn't finish the race fine. But I still thought coming away from Barcelona it's a blow to George Russell and that psychological battle that you mentioned because he was passed on chat by Antonlli. Now, I mentioned I was at a wedding on Saturday. I was listening to some coverage v our colleagues at the BBC, I was watching some text updates and I saw Toto Wolf coming on the radio to have a s ra intervention Yeahet and say almost like, come on, George, get your together who did the whole George just drive G. He was clearly in his head and it is funny, isn't it? Sorts can turn on the tiniest thing. There was all the the confusion around the end of qualifying where Max went off, Kimmy aborted his lap. Really Gege should have been showed a double wave yellow, which means back right off, but George wasn't show George correctly onlyn eased off slightly, didn't need to abort the whole lap got on poll, Kimmy didn't get that final lap because it's not like it was looking that George was out without favorite for Poll, in fact quite the opposite and George got on poll. And that for me That little slice of luck, which let's be honest, George deserves. He's not at the this season. We've discussed that he's not been as quick as Kimmy throughout the most of it, but the same thing can be true and two things can be true, I should say. he's also not at the look That little bit of look turned and then at the start of the Grand Prix, George was able to scamper away whichich in Austria, bear in mind that track I've mentioned, it flows. you can get caught up in the battle to be able to scamper away and get the advantage in Austria is massive. while his teammate Kimmy, by his own admission maybe went one hundred and twenty percent at the start when he should have went one hundred and ran why was going I'll run why there. I'll run why there. He was all over He was cutting the lawn, he was going through the gravel, he was collecting paint, he was doing he was trying to catch up with the drone. He was doing all sorts. And that to me You know, that is why Pll is such an advantage, especially at a track like Australia where you can be passed and repassed sort of turn the weekend and George did have that weekend that he so desperately needed where he'll be going into his home British Grand Prix going All right, he even said at one point in a quote, reminding myself I can do this Yeah, I think that's key, isn't it? I think he need he needed this win. obviously points wise. he needed this win, but for himself just to prove he could do it What you know, you were talking about the the Toto Wolf saying George just drive I thought it was really interesting because afterwards, Toto said that it was basically a reference to all of the work that they've been doing behind the scenes aimed at sort of getting George to recentre himself and remember what he can do because this has been such a difficult season for him. I wonder if this is the sort of launching pad that George needs to really push on becausecause he's good at Silverston He is good at Silverston. It's going Silverton's going to be fascinating for so many reasons. how these cars? tes will coope Round Silverston is going to be the thing I'm most interested in in free practice one and how the drivers react to that 's really interesting. He is good around Silverstom, willill he be as good as Kimmy? becausecause let's be honest, I still think overall pace wise across the season. I think it's advantage Kimmy. Now But The mentality side of Formula one, I know we have this in common, Betty fascinates both of us But for those newer to the sports People don't understand overthinking often And by overthinking we mean best sports people and let's use a soccer football analogy W while better your're sat covering the World Cup It's not like someone like Messy Pate. the ball, control the ball, skip past to players, create the space for themselves, shoot in the top right hand corner and Every one of those things and now I will do this and now I will do this Oh Messily. Yeah, Messi does not think he just does. his body feels it. And it's in the records that he's breaking Yeah. Now a formula one driver needs to be the same The minute you start overthinking, the minute flow isn't there, which is that's when you're in trouble and it's why you get tooto just to remember Just drive the car And we've we've said, you know, George had a good season last season. The amount of us that said he's ready to fight for a title He's done really well. He's not he's a fast driver. He's someone that forced his way into the Mercedes setup at the expense of a very dependable driver in Valdib Botas. He's someone that's had phenomenal drives to win races and these things do get a little bit forgotten about sometimes when a driver's not informed. So it's just unlocking that and the key to it is not thinking too much. And little confidence is massive. L at what lookook at the difference in the two Ferrari drivers from last year to this couldn't typify the confidence anymore. Conidence is massive. So that little bit of confidence he'll have got from this weekend. he's coming away from this weekend because because the thing is Betty in Barcelona, you can do all you like and then if you get passed by your teammate at the end of the race All the fact that qualifying was good, that practice sessions were good, it disappears because you've got to do it when it matters. And the fact he did it when it matters in the race today, the rest of it doesn't matter. That is what is going to be in his head as he drives into Silverston, it's the race. Nothing else matters really and he did it when it counted. and I'll be really important from him going into Silverston. Yeah, I agree. I'm really pleased to see George finally have a good weekend Kimmy Antonelli, let's talk a little bit more about him. How do you think How do you think he's going to be feeling after this weekend? Because I mean, like we said at the top of the program episode ast whatever we're doing. Do you say what you like? Yeah. We were a few laps short of seeing how it could have actually played out because it could have been really spicy, couldn't it when he was hunting down. Yeah. abbsolutely. L looked like he was hunting Max down and who know how who knows how far he'd have gone. I think Kimmy's fine, you know, And actually that's the danger for George. Kimmy by his own exceptionally high standards didn't have a brilliant Sunday. Now we'd have looked at this race for Kimmy last year. What an example this is of how much he's leveled up. We'd have looked at this weekend last year for Kimy and gone absolutely fine. But the fact he was too ragged at the start. He lost time by, you know, it's quicker to stay between the white lines And he didn't. He was too scrappy. He got out a position that cost him in this title battle, if you give your teammate an inch They're both drivers of such caliber that they'll take that inch. So Kimy didn't have a bad weekend at all. He just had a bit of bad looking quality. M well have got Pll Hot heads U I've just been distracted by my dog walking in. I could hear so I could hear that I thought that was something in my room and I was like how was that night? Derek walking in with a tbe. Hello pal. you okay. ' you's just gonna to see him on the cvera though you' going to see how okay You going. U yeah, Kimmy might well have got Pll So And another weekend, it goes very differently and that's why I think he's going to be going into Silverson you know what? Yeah, I was a bit scrappy at the start. That happens I wasn't far away So actually, we're fine. We're absolutely fine. A scrappy star not being far away in a podium and also Betty You mentioned that forty point gap So Producer Wills put in our running order. Where's Producer Will stat? If George won every race with Kimmy second, Kimy would still be championship leader until Madrid in the middle of September. That's the thing he can, therefore, he can have these weekends where he comes Third You know, he can't he's got himself into that position now where he needs to be there or thereabouts because George to win every race We know that So yes I don't think Kimy' in a too bad position at all. I think Kimmy will be absolutely fine Delara on Instagram got in touch, she said, Kimmy is a good driver, but it's going to be George's experience that changes this driver's World Championship battle. which is an interesting perspective because that's what everyone was saying at the start of the season before any ratinging had even happened. They were saying, this is George's sort of title to win because of his experience. Kimmy still fairly new his second season in Formula one. It hasn't played out like that Well listen, you make your own luck in this sport And people were saying, George was lucky in qualifying I see that as really and I read Andrew Benson's write up on it after ali and because I'd watching it thinking I was thinking the same thing. Andrew Benson on the BBC That's George didentifying reading the track really well. That's not that's not look, that's skill going There's only one yellow flag There's any single yellow flags, It's not double. Alan kne off a bit. That is experience. That's quick thinking. That's the stuff that champions do. So Delara has perfectly summarized the beauty of this title challenge, Youth, flare and exuberance versus more experience. And yeah, I think it's really interesting. I think it's really interesting you pois going into Silverston and yes, forty points is a big gap. but for reasons we've discussed before, the Mercedes reliability The fact that other teams are in the mix like Ferrari and Red Bull now. It's interestingly poised. It's not done It is. Christian, it's time for a hydration break Let's hydrate and I might stop Derek chewing this chew in the background because I feel it might be a bit distract Hello everybody. Wlcome back to the Fast N Curures. We have hydrated. I hope you have too. It's very important. stay hydrated. Right, let's talk about Ferrari because we all thought Ferrari were going to bring that fight to Mercedes, didn't we, especially after the last race They absolutely didn't. Hamilton called this weekend a reality check after the highighs of Barcelona Do you think he's right in saying that Christian? is this a reality check for everybody? It's a remind of how highly you need to operate and how high Ferrari are going to operate to stay in the title fight. There were two concerning, three concerning things, if you Ferrari Number one is the continued struggle of Charl Leclc. Number two is the strategy A number three is the aware of the tyres and two and three are linked together Many people were confused as to why Ferrari did a three stop strategy. I thought during the race that maybe they'd looked at it and went this worked so well for us in Barcelona that we'll do it again and do a cot and paste on a. You can see the similarities another hot day, another small ish circuit. both Austria and Barcelona are quite condensed tracks. you think maybe they're thinking we'll do a cut and paste job Whereas in reality, it was more to do with the fact that that Ferrari was way harder on its tyres than their rivals around them Um, you know, even McLaren, really and especially Red Bull and Mercedes or Red Bull in Max's hands So That's worrying for Ferrari because something I said on the last pod was the upgrades worked, the upgrades they boughtght to Barcelona, they bought more upgrades and we don't Really no they worked because Tires strruggling didn't give us that W reads of how quick Ferrari really were because there's nothing wrong with Hamilton's form. If that car was even within half a chance of winning the race, Hamilton would have won the race. Do you know what I mean? He's in Yeah form of his life and notothing across Barcelona, sorry, across where were we Austria? nothing across Austrriia. Thank you Nothing across Austria convince me otherwise there's any problem with Lewis It was that car eating up its tyres too quickly. So Silverson's really interesting to see actually Where are Ai shaking out Yeah it's a worry, isn't it for Ferrari because I must admit I was drinking that Ferrari kool aid. likeike I was well inoy the O Bwagon. I was thinking, right okay Hamilton Hamilt is in this Ferrari of sort of their The issues out, they're ready to go. they're ready to compete with Mercedes for this worldld Championship title. but This weekend was a worry. So many people were confused, weren't they about Ferrari's three stop. Obviously Ferrari knew how much they were struggling, but it wasn' we couldn't see that at the time They just don't sound like they're a happy camp, do they? And they don't sound like it doesn't sound like the car is particularly where they want it to be or elements of the car. No spot on and you saw that with Lewis it looked difficult to control. Now it's been difficult to control in Charles's hands this year. She's a bit of a diva by the looks of it But it actually she looked a bit of a de in Lewis' hands as well I think They need to make it more drivable consistently because we've seen with max in recent years drivers fighting cars equals bad. It's all very well having a quick Beast wants she's tamed, The taming of the beast does not make For a consistently quick package, you need something that behaves more instinctively. and his karma You need a two or three year old golden retriever. you don't need a puppy that needs taming to put it in my current world. And the thing is about the title point If Ferrari have weekends like Barcelona consistently, they will be in the title fight they have those Barcelona weekends one racing three, one racing four, they're not in the title fight. because Kimy's got such a head start on them all because he won those races in a row Ferrari and let's be honest, it's going to be Lewis Hamilton because it's not going to happen for Chharl this year, is it? Even if S Charl improves, he's nowhere near title fighting territory. So if Ferrari are going to take the title to Mercedes, which would be Lewis They need to be on it every weekend everyvery single weekend because I also refer back to a points I've made on the previous part. I don't know how many races we've got this season So, you know, we could lose more Grand Prix. It could be they could have less time than they would have done last year. to make up the positions. So they can't have weekends like this. And if they're going to bring upgrades, they need to bloody well work and I think Silverstone will give us more of an advantage that. The thing I would say Austria historically is not a good track for Ferrari. I think I on the top my head. I'll have to check this, correct me if I'm wrong I think if anyone wants since the track returned to Austrius It's formula one return to Austria I believe Leclire won it and I think twenty twenty two, but other than that it is usually a Mercedes or a reed buull that wins in Austria So It's not a happy hunting ground for Ferrari they'll look to put it behind them Yeah, you've brought us nicely onto Red Bill there because we know that they do like Austria. Max Verstappen is always quite good in Austria, isn't it? or very good in Austria. We know that They were very impressive though, weren't they? Would you say that Max Verstappen Back in the hunts question He Max said interestingly that I'm right, by the way, I'm just double checking, sorry. yeah, the Red Bull Forerari, I've only won once with Leler in twenty twenty two since it came back other than that Rosberg, Hamilton bot us have one for Mercedes and Max has one for Red Bulls. So yeah, we are we're right there.. Oh and Norris is one for McLaren. so yeah, it's usually a Red Bull or a Mercedes that wins in Austria and therefore better yes, Max is W in with a chance. He said afterwards it's probably the first weekend in a long time. We felt broadly competitive. There was a glitch which caused him to crash in qualally. I don' think we're putting that down down to drivever error. I think we're putting that down to a glitch of the wing the rear wing. So I don't believe that Red Bull is going to be like that consistently week in week out. and I don't think Max believes it either. I think Max was sort of talking a lot. He didn't say this, but reading between the lines of what he was saying, it felt to me like he was saying, we were competitive this weekend and that was lovely whether they're going to be across the course of the rest of the season. I don't know. The positive thing for them is and Because of the rule changes and this is completely normal in the first year of a rule set The big teams tend to have the advantage Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari is Massive. So that's why it's helping Isac hadjer. you know, you're not having situations where Rd buull cars are struggling to get into the points. Isac doing a good job taking nothing away from him I don't think they're going to be fighting For winds week in week out I also don't think they're going be tumbling down the order because the gap so high. So I think it will probably revert to the status quo that we've seen from the from Red Bull for the rest of the season. I hope I'm wrong because Max and Lewis fighting was great fun and forormula onene needs these big teams to do well to fight. abbsolutely love it. We hoped we'd get the likes of Aston Martin up there this season. So it'd be good for a Red Bull to be up there. So I hope I'm wrong U yeah, they bought upgrades, they seem to work. Let's see where we are in Silverston. but I just It feeleels a step too far for me to think that they'll be up there week and weekout As always, you guys can get in touch with us on Instagram or wherever else you want to. J ask us any questions, let us know your thoughts, let us know your feelings, whatever it is. Lucas says I'm really happy about Oscars P four. I think it was the bad setup that caused his problems in the last few races Interesting I think actually Oscar did really well this weekend Christian, what do you think? Do Yeah No, I've said a few times that I've been really disappointed for Oscar to see Oscar lagging behind Lamdao. It had started to look like Oscar was the was the McLaren number two driver That was not the case this weekend. He was much closer. G a very, very solid P four. much better for Oscar. Mbe he is you know, this is where experience is interesting. He does have less experience than Lando. Maybe it's a set of thing. We don't know withithout being Tom Stalard Oscar Pastry know what's going on behind the scenes. There's only so much we get to know But he'll go into Silverstoneon a track where he's performed well in the past and was unlucky not to win last year after I seem to remember. So Oscar's not far away and maybe with that experience he's going to maybe he take maybe sorry, I'm not lose strugging words here. comeome on Christian, get through it. Mbe The fact he's been in Formula One for fewer years than Llando means he's taking a little bit longer to get use to these new cars. Maybe it's a theory, but much better weekend for Moscopiastry. and Hlanda wasn't far off, you know, a bit of a scrappy race, but McLaren are where they are they they are not where they want to be. They've won the last two constructors championships, but little things like that I would step forward no be able to take positives from Just while we're on some questions, Sharon Instet asks when teams talk about upgrades, Is it technology, art, software? What are we talking about here? It's a really good question that and it's something that we should, you know, we should never forget that We've got people new joining Formula O all the time Usually when teams talk about we've bought upgrades to a weekend, it's usually aerodynamics Usually it's reducing drag. If your car can cut through the air more effectively you're going to go faster. If you if your car creates more downforce downforce equals sticking to the track Sticking to the track equals being able to take more speed through corners, being able to slow down more effectively, being able to accelerate sooner. This is where net speed comes in. So usually upgrades we talk about are aerodynamic. Now sometimes you'll get mechical engineering ons as well. So this can be suspension systems, braking systems, cooling systems. Sometimes parts, those aerodynamic parts might be lighter than the ones before. So they're doing the same job, but they found a way to make it way less and we've seen teams like Williams this season need to look at that can be data and simulation. I've talked on this podcast before about Aston Martin's struggles. when Adrian knew he came into the team, he said, you know, the grades we're doing in the wind tunnel and in the S don't seem to match with what the drivers feel on track. It can be software and controllls. It usually isn't. usually mid season It is parts, mechanical parts or aero. That is what we're usually talking about mid season Jessse Yninter says, didid anyone else feel unwell watching the drone cams? which made me laugh because I a thing. I'm glad we're talking about this, the drone cam. Now I sort of hadn't noticed this was coming Obviously, Betty, we have a bit of a sneak behind the curtain in the Formula One, don't we? But we were both watching just like everyone else this weekend on the tey I loved the drone. I thought the drone was fantastic The way it got close to the cars and sweet th, I thought it was sensational. My one wor It made me terrified for the person operating the drone. Now Everyone will have done their health and safety, that's of no doubt. but I just thought the pressure, I' drive it into a tree. I just thought the poor person at the controls drive it into a tree or drive it onto the truck or something. That was where it made me go a bit anxious of like, Oh my Godd, there's a lot of pressure for the person The control percent hundred percent and that's easy Oh, no, can't be. But I mean, we struggle because we've we've talked about the amount of timees that we've, you know B especially you with the old, what was it? the old Skod the Fabia, you know, restest in peace, I, the S.est in peace the Soda. That's some fast and curious season one references there. but It made a lot of people feel quite S sick, not se sick, car sick. Thank you, cars, isn't it? Formula O's on tracks, not boats. Oh We should do Formula One on boat for the weekends Drack some on if drivers it No to forget them h's not. putut all the drivers on boats and give them boats trace for a one off. that Steano. lovevely. Anyway. No, it made people feel a bit car sick. Did you feel cararsick? Yeah, it does give you that sort of like motion sickness type vibe, doesn't it? What I think's really interesting is I am pretty sure the drones can't fly directly over the cars So that they're not allowed to do that because No that would makeense Bak if something happens to the drone and it falls, obviously, it could cause fall in a field rather than fall It could cause a big crash, couldn't it? So also whilst these people are operating the drones, they're also having to make sure that it's staying in the right position, following the cars, going at the speed, going at the right angles, it's very, very good and I think this is only going to get better The fact that they're doing this now and you knowice it sort of like a wonky angle I think it's just going to improve and actually we're going get an incredible sort of viewer experience of Grand Prix racing now because of it. It was so cool. But yeah, it did make you feel a bit motion sick I liked it, but for those who are new to Fala Oand Everybody takes the same feed which is made by Formula One So whether you're watching on skky in the UK, on Canal pllus in France, you're all watching the same pictures that F one makes and the technology, they're constantly working to try and make it bigger and better and a lot of work's been done on the driver perspective cams that sit on the visor because when they first made those, keeping them stable enough was the problem And you could only really fix it in post, not live in the race to make because otherwise it was just too too much. So That's come on in leaps and bounds. So you're right, I'm sure this will come on in leaps and bounds. I liked it, but may maybe people just need to start taking their carastic medication before races if they're not okay with it. I really like it.. I really like it. also. The driver perspective cams are really good, but when you're watching an overtake, obviously you're seeing it from the driver perspective, which is quite cool you're not getting that sort of like overall view of it. whereereas the drone, like imagine when you're getting those like really close overtakes and sort of amazing moves, you're seeing that from above, that is inssanely cool And one thing that we've spotted for radio radar from this weekend is Max Verstappen when their yellow flags came out for a broken down cararlos signs He went That means flat out right? passast the car. I love Sassy Max. It's brilliant. The fact that that can go through your head while driving a forula one car, off course he's talking about what we said earlier with George That was it, that was it Gace control error wasn't a wasn't that dririve ra it but Keep being sassy the radio max,'s phenal entertainment. We love that.s Let's go on to Silverston. Betty, I'm keen to ask you a question In your view, Who does it feel like a big weekend for at Silverston? Wh you'll be watching from afar obviously because America. Who are you thinking like are they need a good one Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it I think I think Lewis Hamilton is going to be coming into this weekend thinking if he doesn't have a good weekend, then they're out of out of the fight. Really So I think for Lewis Hamton and Ferrari, they need to bounce back from Austria and try and produce the goods. We know Lewis Hamilton loves Silverston. So it'll be really interesting to see what he can do say I'll be interested to see what Red Bull can do after this weekend Max Vappen And then George pressures on George again, isn't it to back up his performance in Austria. Like he's got his second win of the season Brilliant Can he back it up because we all know Kimmy Antonlli is just looking Like he's on fire at the moment. so I think those three, what about you Well, this is the first one where I've started to think for summer breaks coming The summer break is now not far away. We've got Silverston and Belgium and Hungary Three races in July then we've got cmmerbak T me talkaled about the mentality, right? a lot I just think if you're Russell you're Hamilton You need to go into the summer break on form. I want to be on the beach thinking I can't wait to get back because Kimmy, I'm hunting you down think if you go into the summer break feeling like the Momentum has shifted away from you. That's hard to sit on for months So I think it's big for Hamilton and it's big for Russell. like you said. I think we've got three Grand Prix now Well those two need to go into almost the mindset of little mini season of like maximize what we can get from these three weekends and then let's see where we are. I also on the opposite front There's no real explanation as to why Lecler is struggling. And we said on the part a couple of races ago. I can't remember what it was maybe Canada He was thinking of going more down the Lewis setup And he was going to try things closer to how Lewis has got considering Lewis is making the car feel better hasn't worked. and I was doing some reading about his post race quotes before we started recording and it was just You know Again, you remember we were talking about whoever they did the interview with Monica and the, I think it was Natalie and we were like But Charl, there were some positives and you know, the track was crumbling and Charl was going No, it was me, it was me It was sort of the same again. I saw an interviewer sort of say to him When you might you look closer to Lewis in like qualifying and things, he was like, no, I'm not just j to control the car Silverston, like, The Maggots and Beckets complex where you're going rightight hand the left hand one hundred and sixty plus miles an hour We've seen drivers who are struggling with the car haveave some stinkers at Silwiston It is a high downforce, high speed test and there's going to be a lot to think about for them given the long straights with these new cars J Shaul We've seen drivers have stinkers at Silverson who are struggling. Chal needs to avoid that because otherwise that could be He could spiral. So I think Charl needs to just steady the ship at Silverstone and again, get to the summer break and go project reset here I'm really keeping eye for Chharl. But there's loads of stories up and down the grid. I mean how many Alpine struggled in Austria they'll look to bounce back because they've been in the points. We've got Audi frustratingly trying to break the points race after race. We've got Has who started so well and then have fallen off Racing balls seem impressive. Williams have picked up points, but not consistently. They'll be desperate for a good home race. Cadillac will want to improve their reliability, which started well and has dipped Aston are saying we're not going to do lots of little upgrades. We want to do one big upgrade, which will probably come after the summer break There's a lot to look at up and down the gr I'm looking forward to Syilverston Yeah, I'm so excited to see which way it goes. You're going to be there, Christian. Unfortunately, I can't be there because I'm in America, but you love it, don't you? I'm excited It's great. So sadly No fast and curious at Silverston this year because Betty's in America doinguring the World Cup and Gregoryfield at the Crosswise podcast Festival, which is massive for him. So because the team are brilliantly successful and doing it you know, it's a nice reason not to be there. Everybody's doing wonderful things and I'll be representing solo on the ground, but we hope we're going to really try to come back Next year Oh yeah come back stronger. Exactly. So it it's not a forever thing, just forgivers for this year. And we've got some big things to talk about after the summer break, haven't we Betty? So yeah? big things to talk about after the summer break. So St big announcements. Big announcements. Yeah. So stick with us fast and curious fans, but yeah, it'll just be me on the ground. If you do see me, please do say hello. I'd love to say hello. I'll be doing a show on the Saturday morning at the main stage So I'll see plenty of people after that, I'm sure. and we'll be back as a team next year. We hope scheduled itting but it'll be good fun. And the weather looks dry. It doesn't look like we're getting it. It's looking good. I was looking at it for you actually earlier. Wellere's nice for you you have a nice. I was checking it out. You know what? It's looking brilliant. twenty eight degrees, twenty nine degrees Full on sunshine, not even a cloud in the sky You're going have a great time M be nice week. And well, we'll be back after Silverstom. Uh for a little bit of a look back at what happened. Betty will be in a different part of America still. So we'll look forward to checking in as to where you are, but I'll be back here at this desk having had a weekend in the Silverston field. I'm hoping my hay fever sorts itself out because that's been a problem in the last weekend We could do this without some British hay fever, so that will be interesting and we look forward to returning. But of course, during the weekend, any questions, anything you're unsure about or just also don't feel the need to have to ask a question. If you've just got something you want to get off your mind that's vague formula one related. with ask curious pod on all the socials Th we'll be back after the Grand Prix. Betty, stay safe in America, won't you enjoy football Thank you. I've got to go because it's Brazil against Japan, and that is going to be an absolute craz. a good one G's a good one.' be out tonight. I'll watch that. lovevely. All right, we're back after the Grand Prix. Enjoy it. We're back after Silverston. I'll see you on the ground there. Betty, go well, speak to you next week. Thank you, Thankks for listening guys. Se to you next week. Bye